Age: 30 2013 statistics: 12-12, 3.86 ERA in 30 total starts; 5-6, 4.27 ERA in 15 starts for the Orioles Skinny: The Orioles dealt right-handed pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to the Chicago Cubs on July 2 for Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger. That's an abundance of pitching talent to give away for a three-month rental, but the Orioles were hoping Feldman would join the club, fit in quickly and decide he wanted to stay in Baltimore. That still could happen, though Feldman may be in line for a lot of money in a thin pitching market. If a contender offers him three guaranteed years -- something the Orioles probably won't do -- he'll likely pitch elsewhere. Connolly's take: He's the guy in this group the Orioles most want to retain. And he genuinely enjoyed Baltimore. But it'll come down to whether another club blows away the Orioles' offer, and there's a real potential that could happen.

Age: 30 2013 statistics: 12-12, 3.86 ERA in 30 total starts; 5-6, 4.27 ERA in 15 starts for the Orioles Skinny: The Orioles dealt right-handed pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to the Chicago Cubs on July 2 for Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger. That's an abundance of pitching talent to give away for a three-month rental, but the Orioles were hoping Feldman would join the club, fit in quickly and decide he wanted to stay in Baltimore. That still could happen, though Feldman may be in line for a lot of money in a thin pitching market. If a contender offers him three guaranteed years -- something the Orioles probably won't do -- he'll likely pitch elsewhere. Connolly's take: He's the guy in this group the Orioles most want to retain. And he genuinely enjoyed Baltimore. But it'll come down to whether another club blows away the Orioles' offer, and there's a real potential that could happen. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

Age: 36 2013 statistics: .249 batting average/.312 on-base percentage/.392 slugging percentage, 8 HRs, 39 RBIs in 77 games Skinny: Roberts is the longest tenured Orioles player and was once the face of the franchise. But injuries derailed him after signing a four-year, $40 million contract extension in 2010. He played in just 192 games in that span, but 77 were in 2013. His offense came on at the end of the season, and he'd like to be a career Oriole. Connolly's take: Roberts is a favorite of fans and ownership. That may not have guaranteed his return a year ago, but he's now in a perfect situation for 2014 since the Orioles don't have a set plan at second base. If he's willing to take a one-year, incentive-laden deal, he'll be back.

Age: 36 2013 statistics: .249 batting average/.312 on-base percentage/.392 slugging percentage, 8 HRs, 39 RBIs in 77 games Skinny: Roberts is the longest tenured Orioles player and was once the face of the franchise. But injuries derailed him after signing a four-year, $40 million contract extension in 2010. He played in just 192 games in that span, but 77 were in 2013. His offense came on at the end of the season, and he'd like to be a career Oriole. Connolly's take: Roberts is a favorite of fans and ownership. That may not have guaranteed his return a year ago, but he's now in a perfect situation for 2014 since the Orioles don't have a set plan at second base. If he's willing to take a one-year, incentive-laden deal, he'll be back. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun)

When asked whether he still would be hesitant to forfeit a pick for a free agent, Duquette said: “We’ll have to evaluate that on a case-by-case basis."

That opens the door a little for the Orioles to potentially sign a player who was given a qualifying offer by his previous club but rejected it and became a free agent. Those who likely will fall into that category this offseason include New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, Seattle Mariners designated hitter Kendrys Morales and Kansas City Royals starter Ervin Santana, among others.

Cano and Ellsbury are expected to be well beyond the Orioles’ budget, but Morales and Santana could be more affordable.

According to the most recent collective bargaining agreement, teams that sign players who have rejected qualifying offers forfeit either their first- or second-round pick in the following draft. The Orioles, because they choose in the second half of the first round, would lose their first-rounder.

Duquette certainly isn’t predicting that will happen — or saying he wants it to.

“As a rule, I don’t like to give up draft picks,” he said.

That Duquette didn’t shoot down the idea is interesting, especially considering that he traded the club’s competitive-balance draft pick, which would have been in between the first and second rounds in 2014, to the Houston Astros in July as part of the deal for starter Bud Norris.

Duquette still believes in building a team through its farm system. That’s for sure. So what’s prompting him to be a little less protective of his high draft picks this year? He’s not tipping his hand, but the sense is that Duquette feels a lot better about the club’s ability to scout and sign international amateurs, and that allows him to be a little more liberal with his draft picks.

In Duquette’s tenure here, the Orioles have signed Cuban outfielders Henry Urrutia, who has already made the majors, and Dariel Alvarez, who made it to Double-A last season. And the organization has several other international players about whom Duquette feels good.

Duquette has said from the beginning that he’ll use all avenues to build the Orioles. The amateur draft is obviously one of the most important roads. But if he can get a piece this winter he desperately wants for 2014, Duquette seemingly would at least consider sacrificing a high draft pick, especially now that other options are starting to yield potential big league help.

With the 2015 baseball season just underway, USA Today has released its annual comprehensive list of player salaries. The publication gathers the data from "documents obtained from the MLB Players Association, club officials and filed with Major League Baseball's central office. Deferred payments...